Tag Archives: #52

Robert Garrison's big, beautiful barn.

Big, Beautiful Barn

by Robert Garrison

Cover Photo: Robert Garrison’s big, beautiful barn. The trusses were reinforced with WEST SYSTEM Epoxy.

I designed and, with the help of others, built my big, beautiful barn many years ago. While we didn’t use epoxy in the construction, I’ve used WEST SYSTEM® many times to make repairs and modifications. Much of this was needed because the construction crew didn’t follow the design instructions.

The fourth floor of the building is a 24′ wide by 60′ long clear-span room. The weight of the roof, cupola, and sometimes a lot of snow, are held up by six trusses. I strengthened the trusses by adding the missing gussets, adding additional lumber to some parts, and strengthening weak spots in the grade F lumber I’d used. Continue reading →

Several small parts coating by Russell Brown

Coating Small Parts

By Russell Brown — Port Townsend Watercraft

Pre-finishing parts with WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy before installation is a technique that was popularized by guess who? The Gougeon brothers. It can save time and increase the quality of the finish. Coating small parts can also be a challenge, but it’s much easier if the parts are held in a way that provides good access for roller and brush coating. Continue reading →

Obsession fulfilling its purpose, charging down the rapids.

Oh, the Places You’ll Go…

in a Wooden Boat

By Greg Hatten

I was anxious the first time I took my handcrafted McKenzie-style drift boat to The Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend, Washington. Realizing that boat builders and woodworkers with discerning eyes would be inspecting the construction details of my boat over the course of four days was almost reason enough for me to create a “change of plans” and not go. Continue reading →

1957 MG 15 Fiberglass Runabout with original mahogany transom.

The Restoration of a 1957 Fiberglass Runabout

By Bill Bauer

I acquired this 1957 MFG 15 fiberglass runabout with its original mahogany transom in 2017. The previous owner had started to restore it but did not finish. When I first got the boat it was just a hull and a bunch of parts. A neighbor, Kami, and I work on it on weekends at Black River Boat Shop when we both are available. Continue reading →

Stormy Weather, an East Coast 32 designed by Dovell Naval Architects and built by Denman Marine.

Stormy Weather

By Lorraine Murray — ATL Composites

Denman Marine in Kettering, Tasmania built and recently launched Stormy Weather, an East Coast 32. Renowned naval architect Andy Dovell designed the boat primarily as a day boat but included accommodations for overnights at harbor or short coastal cruising in good weather. She features traditional styling including a plumb stem and curved, raked transom. The Western Red Cedar strip hull is constructed with modern materials including multiaxial E-glass and WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy, resulting in a strong, lightweight, and easily handled boat. Continue reading →

Repairing Gelcoat Stress Cracks

By Terry Monville – GBI Technical Advisor

Knowing how or why your boat’s gelcoat cracks occurred in the first place is the key to a successful repair. For example, if hitting a seawall or dropping a champagne bottle on deck is what caused the cracks, after fixing them you will know how to prevent them in the future: Don’t drink the champagne causing you to hit the seawall and drop the bottle. Continue reading →

The Globe Mini 5.80 is a boat in a box.

Boat in a Box

The Globe Mini 5.80

By ATL Composites

The compact offshore racing boat known as the Globe Mini 5.80 is the brainchild of adventurer and sailing legend, Don McIntyre. This boat design is taking off all over the world in the form of a DIY kit constructed with plywood and WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy. Continue reading →

On the left is a typical propane torch flame. On the right is one with a flame spreader attachment. The highlighted sections indicated the optimal zone for flame treating plastics.

Flame Treating Plastics

Above: The highlighted sections indicated the optimal zone for flame treating plastics. On the left is a typical propane torch flame. On the right is one with a flame spreader attachment. 

by Terry Monville – GBI Technical Advisor

It’s no secret that bonding to plastic can be a challenge. Identifying what type of plastic you are working with—ABS, PVC, HDPE, LDPE, UHMWPE, and this list goes on—is your first step. Continue reading →

G/flex 655-1 Epoxy in a dual syringe

G/flex® 655 Epoxy

Now in a Convenient Dual Syringe

Versatile G/flex Thickened Epoxy Adhesive is now available in a dual syringe for convenient dispensing. The G/flex 655-1 syringe contains 0.42 oz. of resin and 0.42 oz. of hardener, the perfect amount to keep on hand for small repair jobs. Depressing the plunger on the dual syringe dispenses the proper 1:1 ratio of G/flex resin and hardener. Continue reading →

Faux river table with wood veneer

Go with the Faux

Refurbishing a Coffee Table with Wood Veneer

By Julie Jezowski – GBI Technical Department

River tables? Love them! Think they’re cool… know I’d never have the patience to make one… too cheap to buy one.

Lately, I’ve been on a refurbish/re-do jag and am obsessed with Facebook Marketplace. Things I never even knew I needed I can find everywhere! It really is a curse (for my family) and a blessing (to me!). Continue reading →